Flint Still Doesn’t Have Clean Water And I Am So, So Sorry

I suppose I should start out with a little back story, there were a few key events that lead up to the planting of the seed of this letter. I had just learned about lead poisoning and its affects on people, mainly children, in one of my child development classes a few weeks ago. Then, last weekend, I went to Huckleberry Railroad in Genesee. While I was there, not thinking, I filled up my water bottle a few times from the drinking fountain, when an older gentlemen came up to me and said, “Excuse me miss, I saw you fill up your water bottle a couple times from the drinking fountain, do you know that this is technically Flint water.”

I was stunned, by the embarrassment of my thoughtlessness, which was quickly washed away by the flood of betrayal, that I can only imagine is a spec, compared to feelings of the residence of Flint. I didn’t understand, their water was contaminated over a year ago, how wasn’t this problem fixed? Then today, the last domino fell, I was driving with my family to my Aunt’s house in the eastern part of the state, near Detroit, where my father grew up. As we were driving through Flint, my father goes, “So you said that their water is still bad?”

I responded, “Yeah that guy warned me not to drink it last weekend.”

“Wow,” he said, “You know if that happened in Auburn Hills, the problem would have been fixed in a week.” That’s when it all clicked.

So, to you, residence of Flint, I am sorry.

I am sorry that you and your children are still without the basic right of clean water to drink. I am sorry that you have to worry about everyday tasks that the rest of us over-privileged people don’t think twice about, like brushing our teeth, bathing, and drinking water without being poisoned. I am sorry that after years, this is still an everyday burden that you are forced to bear.

I’m sorry that I have never done anything to help and remained naive to the suffering you have endlessly been enduring. I am sorry that I, and the rest of the state and country has turned a blind eye to you. Aiming our attention at whatever the next event the mainstream media wants our focus on. I am sorry that your children, the only good and innocent beings on this planet, will suffer the long term affects of lead poisoning, for the rest of their lives, and that you will have to bare-witness to it.

Dear Flint and state politicians, I am sorry.

I am sorry that the residence of Flint put their trust in you to keep them safe. No, not even safe, just trusted you to not poison them secretly, and now publicly. I am sorry that you utterly failed these people, and have yet to pay for it or correct your mistakes. I am sorry that you are even in office and have the positions of authority that you attain, and have not utilized that power to redeem your mistakes. I am sorry that you lack the compassion or care to give people, human beings, clean water.

Dear the city of Flint, I hope.

I hope that you know I still care, people still care. I hope that this, and other outlets, will bring awareness back to the battle that you are fighting. I hope you know that through every trial, God will always reign. I hope you know he has a plan for your city as well as each and every one of you. Lastly, I hope that you will feel safe to drink water again, soon. You are not forgotten.